Martha Stewart's Plant Recommendation For A Lush Privacy Hedge

Considering how beautiful Martha Stewart's home and garden are, it's no wonder her plant recommendations are taken seriously. When she mentioned in The Martha Blog that she had recently added in some new shrubs to her living maze, her fans definitely took notice. These shrubs, the gorgeous 'Green Mountain' boxwoods (Buxus 'Green Mountain'), aren't just a good option for hedge mazes; they are also perfect for adding lush and deer-resistant greenery to your landscaping and creating privacy hedges, thanks to their dense foliage.

Because this elegant and popular evergreen shrub is perfect for plant-sculpting, it's no wonder Stewart opted to include these boxwoods in her hedge maze. 'Green Mountain' boxwood doesn't grow as quickly as some other privacy hedge plants, such as privet (Ligustrum spp.) but this isn't necessarily a downside. Unlike privet, boxwood hedges aren't known to become invasive or overly aggressive. As Stewart notes in her blog, these shrubs remain evergreen year-round and their beauty only increases as they steadily grow and mature. 

Hardy in zones 5 through 8, 'Green Mountain' boxwoods can thrive in anything from full sun to part shade and can tolerate a variety of different types of soil, as long as it has good drainage. While boxwoods are native to Europe and Asia, they grow well in much of North America. When planting boxwoods, Martha Stewart has a few time-saving techniques that can help you create a professional-looking privacy hedge. First, her team uses brightly colored twine to mark a straight line, then digs one big planting trench. She writes on The Martha Blog, "Digging a trench is not only faster when planting a number of specimens in a row compared to individual holes, but it also allows more break up of the soil for new roots to grow and for better circulation of oxygen and water" 

Because 'Green Mountain' boxwoods will grow to around 5 feet tall, they can be ideal for foundation plantings, in addition to privacy hedges. Just be sure to locate them in an area where they have some protection, especially if you live in an area with intense and windy winters. 'Green Mountain' boxwoods require regular watering, especially early in their life when they are still getting established. They also benefit from spring or early summer fertilizing, and grow best when they are mulched as it helps protect their shallow roots. Additionally, you should be careful if you plant annuals around your boxwoods as a living mulch, as the boxwood's roots can easily be damaged or disturbed. As the plants mature, watch out for telltale signs of boxwood blight and know what to do about it.